Postharvest Handling Practices of Sweet Orange Marketers in Benue State, Nigeria

Successful marketing of fresh fruits requires careful attention to the details involved in postharvest handling (PH), which protects fruit’s quality and nutritive and economic value. This study assessed the PH practices of sweet orange marketers in Benue State. Six (6) major orange markets were purposively selected. Thereafter, a total of 104 marketers were randomly sampled. The data were collected using an interview schedule and analysed using the frequencies, percentages, means, Chi-squares, and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlations at α0.05. The knowledge of PH practices and the level of PH practice utilisation were high. Marketers’ age (r = −0.220, p < 0.05), the use of sacks for packaging (χ2 = 23.314, p < 0.01), knowledge of PH (r = 0.272, p < 0.01), and attitudinal disposition towards PH (r = 0.492, p < 0.01) significantly influence the utilisation of PH practices. This study recommends the generation of awareness and sensitisation among marketers by horticultural crop institutions on improved preservation and packaging methods for sweet oranges.